A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace “A glorious book . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought.”—Los Angeles Times How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don’t understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions. Casting a wide net through history and culture, Sagan examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies of the past as witchcraft, faith healing, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today's so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning with stories of alien abduction, channeling past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect. As Sagan demonstrates with lucid eloquence, the siren song of unreason is not just a cultural wrong turn but a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens our most basic freedoms. Praise for The Demon-Haunted World “Powerful . . . A stirring defense of informed rationality. . . Rich in surprising information and beautiful writing.”—The Washington Post Book World “Compelling.”—USA Today “A clear vision of what good science means and why it makes a difference. . . . A testimonial to the power of science and a warning of the dangers of unrestrained credulity.”—The Sciences “Passionate.”—San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle

"Travel around the globe to uncover some of the world's most terrifyingly haunted places. With eerie images and lots of bone-chilling information, you won't want this spine-tingling world tour to end!"-- Back cover.

ON HALLOWED AND HAUNTED GROUND Discover the paranormal legacy of the Second World War. In this book, you will encounter dozens of phenomena in the European and Pacific theaters as well as historic locations in the US where the spirits of the dead are unable—or unwilling—to let the past go. The ghost of an admiral gives a tour of the USS Lexington Tourists at Dieppe are haunted by the terrifying sounds of battle A full-body apparition appears at Schofield Barracks Ghost tanks are witnessed patrolling the Russian front Phantom footsteps shock the guards at Hickam Air Force Base Ghostly soldiers knock on doors at Iwo Jima A spirit-sailor keeps eternal watch at Pearl Harbor This book also shares fascinating stories of supernatural warfare. Learn about wizards and witches in England casting spells to hold the Germans at bay; Dion Fortune and the Fraternity of the Inner Light working magic in support of the Allies; and Aleister Crowley waging a psychic campaign to capture high-ranking Nazi, Rudolf Hess. Haunted World War II explores the high strangeness and haunted aftermath of the most devastating clash of nations in living history.

Paranormal expert Theresa Cheung shares 101 of the most mysterious and spooky true stories of hauntings from around the world together with the latest afterlife science and research, providing fascinating insight into our never-ending love affair with ghosts.

People of Asia are no stranger to ghost stories, but some terrifying tales have stood the test of time. Head to the Chanoei No. 81 mansion in China, where ghosts are said to have sent even the bravest souls fleeing from its crumbling walls. Travel to India to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, where you will see much wildlife-and perhaps a vanishing hitchhiker. Go to the Penang War Museum in Malaysia, where ghosts are said to roam among the artifacts. Young readers will be fascinated by each story that comes with its own set of eerie events.

Inspiration for the feature film and one of the most acclaimed graphic novels ever, following the adventures of two teenage girls, Enid and Becky, best friends facing the prospect of growing up, and more importantly, apart.

Get the Summary of Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. Carl Sagan's "The Demon-Haunted World" is a comprehensive examination of the importance of scientific literacy in a world increasingly governed by technology and science. Sagan discusses the dangers of pseudoscience and the necessity of distinguishing it from genuine science. He emphasizes the role of science in medicine, its historical evolution, and the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific advancements...

This extraordinary book tackles head-on the existence and meaning of spirit forces in Australia. Haunted Earth asks a few key questions: Is Australia haunted? If so, where, and with what? Are there spiritual or otherwise ‘special’ places in Australia? Each chapter follows a round-the-clock journey, from midnight to midnight, charting the activities of Australians of many different experiences and cultures: there are Aboriginal spirits on Flinders Island at daybreak, the summoning of a Chinese ancestor spirit at noon in Perth, an exorcism in New South Wales in early afternoon.

An argument that what makes science distinctive is its emphasis on evidence and scientists' willingness to change theories on the basis of new evidence. Attacks on science have become commonplace. Claims that climate change isn't settled science, that evolution is “only a theory,” and that scientists are conspiring to keep the truth about vaccines from the public are staples of some politicians' rhetorical repertoire. Defenders of science often point to its discoveries (penicillin! relativity!) without explaining exactly why scientific claims are superior. In this book, Lee McIntyre argues that what distinguishes science from its rivals is what he calls “the scientific attitude”—caring about evidence and being willing to change theories on the basis of new evidence. The history of science is littered with theories that were scientific but turned out to be wrong; the scientific attitude reveals why even a failed theory can help us to understand what is special about science. McIntyre offers examples that illustrate both scientific success (a reduction in childbed fever in the nineteenth century) and failure (the flawed “discovery” of cold fusion in the twentieth century). He describes the transformation of medicine from a practice based largely on hunches into a science based on evidence; considers scientific fraud; examines the positions of ideology-driven denialists, pseudoscientists, and “skeptics” who reject scientific findings; and argues that social science, no less than natural science, should embrace the scientific attitude. McIntyre argues that the scientific attitude—the grounding of science in evidence—offers a uniquely powerful tool in the defense of science.

James A. Herrick offers an intellectual history of the New Religious Synthesis, examining the challenges it poses to Judeo-Christian tradition, demonstrating its sources and manifestations in contemporary culture, and questioning its acceptance in church and society.